Put the washer on then popped to the shops.

What a sight greeted me - floor awash and the washer was still working. PANIC!

Sinking dirty water full of white mesh bits on all the woollens ...

Managed to get everything out and tried to see what the problem was. The filter is full of this white mesh stuff -just like the little mesh bags you put your soap into - but we have never used them before.

Cleaned everything up and tried again. Still loads of this stuff coming out.
Again I cleaned it out and put it back together and thought this would be ok, so tried a quick rinse. Alas, no good this time, just clean water leaking from under the machine, not from the pipes or pump, but coming from somewhere around the drum.

Happy Xmas Ems, looks like you are having a new washing machine!